On Sept. 15, for the first time since Christmas Eve, a Wilson may start a regular-season game at quarterback in Denver. For the first time since Oct. 8, 2023, two Wilsons possibly could start at quarterback in a game @Mile High.

Perhaps one Wilson will be a backup and the other an ineligible practice-squad player.

This should be the most critical home opener for the Broncos since 2018 when the opposing quarterback was a Wilson.

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The Broncos’ franchise also has played against Wilson quarterbacks named George, Marc and Wade.

Russell Carrington Wilson and Zachary Kapono Wilson were starters for the Broncos and Jets, respectively, early last season, but did not finish late in the season as starters.

The 35-year-old Wilson will receive $1.21 million from the Steelers while the new Broncos’ Wilson, who turns 25 in August, will get $2.73 mil from the Broncos.

The Jets owe the other half of Zach’s pact.

Difference is the Broncos are indebted to Russell Wilson for almost $38 million.

Add Jarrett Stidham’s $5 million and $3.39 million for Bo Nix in 2024 to the Wilsons’ income from the Broncos, and the total is approximately $50 million, which is $5 million less than what Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow each will earn this season.

The top 11 QBs in the NFL will gross $5 billion overall in a 17-game season.

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The NBA’s 11 best-paid players, including one with the Nuggets, will make $5.5 billion in the 2024-25 season.

The cost of doing sports business is spiraling.

Contracts in Colorado for a failed QB and a flopped baseball player aren’t unusual anymore, and Russell Westbrook actually would be a bargain-basement buy for $5 million. Nathan MacKinnon signed a $100 million extension ($12.4 million average over eight seasons) that is the steal of the NHL.

Nolan Jones of the Rockies has a contract for $745,000 this year, and Nate Jones of the Rapids is on a deal for $71,000.

Interestingly enough, Zach Wilson signed a four-year agreement with the Jets for $35 million that is all guaranteed and runs out in ‘25. Russell Wilson was presented with a $124 million bonus when he signed an extension. But, because he was released by the Broncos, Wilson does not have a guarantee in ’25.

So, this season is imperative for both Wilsons.

Last season they dueled in Denver, and Zach’s Jets prevailed over Russ’s Broncos 31-21. Who would have known then what we have now? Research revealed that a few fantasy football fans asked if they should trade Russell for Zack – for their own teams before the October game. After the 2022 season a guy who called himself “Seaside Joe’’ wanted to trade Russell from the Seahawks, with four draft picks, to the Jets for Zach. However, in February, a former NFL general manager suggested that the Jets sign Russell Wilson to be Aaron Rodgers’ reserve. “Where is he (Russell) gong to go? Nobody’s handing him a starting job.’’ Meanwhile, a New York “insider’’ predicted that Zach Wilson would end up with the Falcons, the Cardinals, the Vikings or the Titans.

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Russell was handed the No. 1 job in Pittsburgh and must have believed he was secure for at least a year. Zach was traded to the Broncos and must have felt he would beat out Stidham to become the starter. Both quarterbacks had to notice that the Steelers would play in Denver and assumed there would be a rematch of the ’23 spar. In that game Russell completed 21 of 30 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked four times and surrounded a safety. Zach was 19 of 26 for 199 yards, but was intercepted once and didn’t throw for a score. Nathaniel Hackett defeated his successor Sean Payton.

Funny things have happened on the way to Wilsons: The Sequel. The Bears gifted young starter Justin Fields to the Steelers, and the Broncos drafted Nix.

With NFL preseason training beginning for real Russell Wilson will have to hold off Fields, and the newly-engaged Zach Wilson will be deeply-engrossed in competition with Stidham and Nix.

Wilson vs. Wilson, Wilson vs. Stidham, Wilson vs. Nix, Fields vs. Wilson, Stidham vs. Fields or Nix vs. Fields?

Which win in camps, and who wins the game? Wilsons? Pick it?

Nix that idea.

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